Bubble wrap and plastic bags are part of a larger category known as “film” plastics that stretch easily over your thumb. Bubble wrap, of course, can be saved and reused, or your neighborhood UPS or similar mail store may take sheets with the bubbles intact.

But at home, keep bubble wrap, along with all plastic bags and other film plastic out of the recycling bin. It gets tangled in the machines at the sorting facility and bring operations to a halt. Find a place to drop them off or throw them in the garbage.